Record changer



D. H. SMITH RECORD CHANGER June 2, 1953 s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1,3. 1948 June 2, 1953 D. H. SMITH'- I 2,640,703

RECORD CHANGER I Filed 001'.. 15. 1948 ,ff-m i vs sheets-sheet 2 l JNVENToR. v v DuoLev .9M/1w June 2, -1953 D. H. sMl'n-l 2,640,703

RECORD CHANGER June 2, 1953 D. H. sMrrH 2,540,703

' RECORD CHANGER Filed. Oct. 13. 1948 6 Sheets-Shet 4 Tc. TENA.

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ATTORNEY D. H. SMITH RECORD CHANGER June 2, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 13. 1948 INVENTOR Hymn/Smm ATTORNEY June 2, 1953 D. H. SMITH RECORD CHANGER Filed oct. 15. 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Duma' hf SMITH Y ATTORNEY Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT This invention relates to improvements in record changers and has for a principal object the provision of improved trigger mechanism for instituting a record changing cycle.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a record changer, of the type where the records are dropped onto the turntable one at the timer from a group of records supported above the turntable, of means, engaged by each record as it is falling, for slowing the rate of the fall, thereby preventing the records from breaking as a result of the fall.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a record changer, of a trip, out of the range of records of one diameter as they are dropped onto the turntable but within the range of records of larger diameter for electrically controlling the position of the needle as the tone arm is let down so that said needle will engage the beginning of the sound track on the larger record.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a record changer of the type where records are dropped onto the turntable from a group of records supported. above the turntable, of mechanism for normally positioning the tone arm to play ten inch records, and the provision of trip means engaged by twelve inch records` will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon,

a study of the following specication and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is aplan view of my improved record changer;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partially in section,l

of the record changer shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view as seen along the lines 3 -3 of Figure 2;

5 Claims. (Cl. 274-10) Figure 4 is a view taken along the lines 4-ll away and showing details of some of the mech- Y anism;

Figure 7 .is an elevation, partly in section and!- taken along the lines 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 7A is an elevation similar to Figure 7,

. 2 but showing the parts in other positions as occurs during a certain portion of the operating cycle;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing means for supporting a group of records above the turntable and for releasing one record at the beginning of each operating" Cycle Figure 9 is a sectional lview taken along the lines 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an elevation, partly in section, of

the supporting post for the record hold-down arms;

initiated;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, and showing the positions of the elements when the playing of a twelve inch record is initiated;

Figure 13 is an elevation, partly in section,

taken along thelines l3-l3 of Figure 11;`

Figure 14 is an elevation, partly in section,

taken along the lines l4-l4 of Figure 12;

Figure l5 is an elevation, partly in section, i

taken along the lines I5-l5 of Figure 13; and

Figure 16 is a sectional elevation as seen along the lines lli- I6 of Figure 13.

Referring rst to Figures 1 and 2, the mproved record changer includes a base plate 20, a turntable 2l, a reproducer arm v.22, a center I post 23 which supports the records above the turntable, and a record hold-down device 24, and mechanism supported below the, base plate 20vr which will hereinafter be described in detail., The turntable 2 l, as may be seen in Figure 3, has

mounted in the cross member 30a, and it may also 4be journaled in a bushing (not s-hown) supported I in the plate 20 in spaced relation to the bearing 30. On the lower end of the sleeve 29 is secured a pinion 3l. This pinion is bored out and is xedly mounted on the exterior of the sleeve 29, thereby leaving the interior free to support elements which will presently be described. Spaced apart from the sleeve 29 and parallel thereto, is a vertical shaft 32 which has a bearing 33 in wthe base plate 20 and a bearing 34 in a sub-7- frame 35,as may also be seen in Figures 'Tand OFFICE r .i 7A. The sub-frame 35 has vertical Webs 36 and 31 Which are secured to the plate 23.

Secured to the shaft by means of a taper pin 39 and in alignment with the pinion 3l is a gear 38. The gear 38 as may be seen in Figure 3, has a portion 40 Where the teeth have been removed, so that when this portion is encountered by the pinion 3l and the gear wheel is held at rest, the turntable 2| is free to rotate, as for example when the record is being played. l

Also secured on the shaft 32 is a cam 4| which has a hub 42 carrying a set screw 43 engaging the shaft 32. The cam 4i carries on its upper surface a camming member 44 (see Figures 24, 6, 7 and '.'A). The cam also has a lateral lobe 45 and a lobe 46 on the under-surface thereof..

The purposes of these lobes will be presently described.

The shaft 32 carries on its lower end a sleeve i which is secured thereon by a cross pin 52 andthis sleeve carries a pin 4l which is parallel to and eccentric with respect to the axis of shaft 32, and secured to this pin is one end of a spring 48, the other end being secured to a stud 43' carried on the sub-frame 35. The spring urges the pin 4l to a position whereV the cut-away portion 43 of the gear 38 is in alignment with the pinion 3l, so that there is no engagement of the gear with the latter. This position of the pin is shown in Figure 7A. The gear 33 has a plurality of radial spokes 50. v

Referring now to Figures 7 and 7A, a Z-shaped bracket 53 has formed in the horizontal portion 54 a vertical square hole 55. Reciprocally carried in the hole 55 is a square shaft 58, the upper endfof which is adapted '.to engagek one of the spokesfin the gear 38 and function as a stop. The shaft 55 has a horizontal projection 5'lwhich is preferably round in cross-section and this pro# jection extends generally toward the shaft 32, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, and consequently it spans a, portion of the cam 4l. As the shaft 32 rotates, the camming member 44 carried on the cam 4i engages the projection 5'land consequently urges the shaft 55 upwardly so that its upper end extends between two spokes 53 of the gear 36, with the result that the gear 38 stops With'its spoke 50c in contact with the shaft 56 and with .the gear 33 at rest 'in this position, the cutaway portion 46 is in alignment with the pinion 3l and therefore there is no engagement of the pinionA with the gear at this point, thereby leaving the vturntable free to rotate to play a record.

DueV to the. position. of the cammingmember 44 on .the camel, the gear 33 alwaysstops with. the spoke 53a in contact with the shaft 5S, when the latter is raised by the camming member 44. The sub-frame hasa` stud 58 secured Vthereto andformed integral with the stud is a shaft 59. Aflever 63 carries a bushing El which is journaled on the shaft 59. The normal position of theV lever-.E3` is against the sha-ft 56, as fshown in Figure 7A. Now, as soon as `the camming member 44 raises the shaft 55, the lever `tiimoves over against the vertical leg of the Z-shaped member 53 under the urge of the spring y62 and.

retains the shaft in the position shown in Figure '7, and thereby the gear 38 is held at rest and in non-engagement relation with the pinion 3l. A.

spring 63 has one end connected to the projection 5l and has its other end connected to the Z-shaped bracket 53 so that when the camming member 44 raises the projection 5l, the .spring 63'is tensioned and tends to urge the shaft 5l downwardly, but it is prevented from moving 4 downwardly as long as the lever 63 is beneath it. The lower end of the shaft 56 has a rounded portion 56a against which the lever 63 may cam when the shaft 56 is being raised.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 8, the interior passage 64 formed in the tubular shaft 29 serves as clearance for the center post 23 which is comprised of elements 65 and il. The post member 65 has the lower end secured to the sub-frame 35 by means of a bracket 66. This post member 65, which is generally rectangular in cross-section, has a notch 67 formed therein a predetermined height above the turntable 2l and this notch serves as a ledge upon which the records to be played are supported.

The post 65 above the notch 3l has aligned slots 68 formed therein and a slidable member 69, also generally rectangular in cross-section, has escutcheon pins T3 therein which extend through the slots 68 and permit the slidable member 69 to be moved up and down.

A second post element ll has an elongated slot l2v formed therein and an escutcheon pin 'I3 extends through the slot and is riveted into thev post member 65 so that the post element 'H is both slidably and pivotally connected to the post member 65. The upper end 'i4 of the post elementA ll is rounded, as shown, and intermediate the ronded end 14 and the elongated slot 12, a rubber-like buffer member l5 is secured onto the element l l, which retards the fall of records from the height of the notch Si to the turntable or the top record thereon. Pivotally connected to the lower end of the element "H, by means of a as seen in Figure 2. The portion 8l of the lever;

to the left of the pivotpin il, passes through a slot 32 formed in a bracket 33. The extreme left end of thesportion 8l is offset downwardly and carries a horizontal portion 84, carrying a stud upon which a roller 83 is mounted. The portion 84 also carries a horizontal stud upon which a roller 8'! is mounted. The roller 86 bears against the periphery of the cam 4I and is adapted to be actuated by the lobe 45 and the roller 8l bears against the under-surface of the cam 4I and is adapted to be actuated by the cam surface 4B, with the result that the lower end of the element 'H is moved laterally by the lobe 45 and is moved endwise by the cam surface 46. The lobe and the cam surface are so proportioned that the element il is moved upwardly (endwise) a little less than the thickness of the record, and then the element 'il is swung about the pivot 73 in a counter-clockwise direction, sufficiently to move the lower record of the stack 88 to the left to a point where the hole therein clears the ledge 6l', thus allowing the record tok drop downwardly along the post 23. However, when the element TM is moved counter-clockwise,

`as aforesaid, the buffer l5 has also moved to the left and a portion of it is in the path of the falling record, and thus the fall of the record is retarded. This feature prevents breakage of the records fromfalling, which is often encounv89 also has a follow surface 90 on the under side thereof. A roller 9|, carried on a member 92, which will presently be described, bears on the periphery of the cam 09 and is moved thereby. A roller 98 is pivotally carried on the end of a lever member 94, which will also presently be described, and this roller bears against the follow cam surface 90 on the under side of the cam 89.

The record hold-down device 24V includes a shaft or post 95 which is riveted to a lug 96 on the plate 20 by means of rivets 91 (Figures 1, 2 and 10). The shaft 95 has a portion of its length cut away to form a stop or ledge 98. A

bushing 99 is slidably carried on the cut away portion 95a, of the shaft and the notch 98 lim-l its its downward movement. The bushing 99 has formed integral therewith a portion which is angular with respect to the axis of the bushing 99 and a second flat portion |0| is parallel to and in spaced relation to the portion |00.

A shaft |02 is journaled in aligned holes in the portions |0| and |00 and carried on this shaft is an arm |03, which bears on the upper surface of the portion |0| and which is secured to the shaft by means of a taper pin |04. Between the portions |00 and |0| the shaft carries a gear |05 which is :keyed to the shaft |02 by means of a taper pin |06.

The members |00 and |0| have another set of aligned holes therethrough which are spaced apart from and parallel to the holes which receive the shaft |02 and these holes have journaled therein a shaft |01.4 Secured to the upper end ofthe shaft and bearing on the upper member |0| is an arm |08. This arm is secured to the shaft by means of a -pin |09. Also carried on the shaftbetween the members |00 and `|0| is a gear ||0 which is secured to the shaft |01 in the same manner as the gear is secured to the shaft |02 (shown in Figure 10). The spacings between the shafts |02 and |01 is such that the pitch circles of the gears are tangentrand consequently the gears cooperate with each other.

When it is desired to put some records on the center post 23, the arms |03 and |08 are swung oppositely, to the positions shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 1; then the records may be placed on the center post 23 and allowed to come to rest with the bottom record of the group resting on the ledge 61, as shown in Figure 2. Y

YFollowing this, the arms are grasped in a manner to move the bushing 99 endwise on the shaft 95 so as to bring these arms above the level vof the stack of records; then, the arms'are swung toward each other so that they come to rest in the position shown in Figure 1, which position is gauged by a pin which extends radially from the periphery of the gear |05. When Vthe arms are brought toward each other, this pin engages the hollow between two adjacent teeth in the gear ||0. When the arms are released, the' hold-down device 24 is urged downwardly both by the force of gravity and under the urge of a spring l2, one end of which is secured to the bushing 99 and the other end of which is secured to the plate 20.

It will be noted in Figure 2 that the shaft 95 is inclined at a slight angle to the vertical and consequently the arms and the records' guidedV thereby are inclined substantially the same angle with respect to the horizontal. In the embodiment shown, the arms and the records are inclined approximately 10 with respect to the horizontal.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 6, the arm 60 has a portion |3 which extends vertically and joining the portion ||3 is a horizontal portion ||4, the outer end of which carries a plurality of notches ||5 which are adapted to be engaged 'by a pawl ||6 carried on a block member ||1.

The pawl is provided with a stop I|8 and a spring1 |-9 connected to the pawl and to the block memberv |1,-urges thn pawl I6 against the stop ||8. The block member ||1 has an L-shaped notch formed therein which leaves clear an arm, the side surfaces |3| and |32 of which are active sur-faces approximately apart. The block member ||1 has a hub |20 which is secured to the lower end of a sleeve shaft |2| by means of a set screw |22.

Mounted on the sleeve shaft |2| beneath the plate 20 is a thrust bearing having an upper half |23 bearing against the under-surface of the plate and having a lower half |24 with balls engaging races formed in the two halves. Abutting the lower surface of the half |24 is a collar |25 which is secured to the sleeve shaft |2| by means of a set screw |26. Abutting the upper surface of the plate 20 is the lower half |21 of a second thrust bearing. The thrust bearing has an upper half |28 and between these halves are the usual races and balls. Abutting the half |28 of the bearing is a collar |29 which is secured to the sleeve shaft by means of a set screw |30.

The reproducer arm 22, referring now particularly to Figures 2 and 5, is generally in the form of a channel, the sides of which deepen in the vicinity of the sleeve shaft |2|, above described. A link member |33 has one end pivotally connected to the sleeve shaft |2| in any suitable manner, for example, by means of an escutcheon pin |34, and the other end thereof is connected to the channel side |35 of the reproducer arm 22, by an escutcheon pin |36. The channel side |31 of the reproducer arm has one end of a second link member |38 connected thereto by an escutcheon pin |39 and the other end of the link member |38 is connected to the sleeve-shaft 2| by means of another escutcheon pin |40.v

Reciprocally carried in the sleeve shaft |2| is a shaft |4| which has an enlarged head |42 formed on the lower end thereof. The upper end of the shaft 4| is counterbored and has mounted therein a beveled liber or other friction disc |43, which bears against the channel 22 intermediate the sides |35 and |31. The enlarged head |42 on the lower end of the shaft |4| is also counterbored and carries a friction disc |44. The purpose 'of the friction discs is to impose sufficient friction on the tone arm, while it is being moved to the playing position to overcome momentum and ensure accurate registration of the needle with the beginning of the sound track on the next record to be played, and this is effective whether the record is a 10 record or a 12" record. When the shaft |4| is urged upwardly, the reproducer arm isv moved upwardly and at the same tune, the friction is imposed on it and it is subjected to this friction as long as the reproducer arm is swung upwardly to the position shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 5. The reproducer arm 22 may carry in its outer end, the right vend as seen in Figure |69. yThe.bracket v|68 is secured to the Vplate by means of rivets |10. The left end of the lever member 94, as seen in Figures 2 and 5, is offset downwardly so that its 1eft end m is substantially horizontally positioned below the head |42 formed on the shaft |4|. the portion |1| of the lever member 94 clears the head |42 when the reproducer arm is traversing the sound track on the record. At the. same time, the roller 93 rests in a depression |12 formed in the lower cam surface 90 ofthe cam 89. When the cam 89 rotates, the roller 93 encounters the main shaft surface 90, and inl doing so, moves substantially downwardly and this causes the end |1| of the lever member to move upwardly so that it engages the head |42 and urges the shaft |4| upwardly. ThisA motion is transmitted to the reproducer arm via the end disc |43 with the result thatl the outer end ducer arm is lowered to bring the needle into,-

engagement with the outer groove on the record.

Referring now to Figures 11-16, inclusive, a Inodication of the invention is shown wherein I employ a mechanical trip which is actuated by each'12 record as it drops upon the turntable. In this arrangement, the reproducer arm Normally,

is normally swung to the proper position for playing 10 records; however, when a 12 record drops upon the turntable, it engages and actuates a mechanical trip and each time this trip is actuated, the reproducer arm, instead of swinging into the normal position for starting 10 records, does not swing in as far, and comes to rest immediately above the Starting position for a 12" record. Of course, in each case, the mechanism for letting the reproducer arm down, so that the needle may engage the sound track in the record, acts after the reproducer arm has been brought to the proper playing position in accordance with whether 10" or 12" records are v to be played.

In the modification, the base plate 20a supports the turntable and the motor drive thereof and the center of the turntable is indicated at.

|13 and the details of the center post and the pinion are shown in the form of the invention described above and need not be repeated. The f cutaway gear in the modification is designated bythe numeral 38a and is identical with the gear 38 described above. The gear is supported on a shaft 32a which carries cams, such as the cam 4| (not shown) for controlling the trip mechanism for starting the next change cycle and the releasing of the records.

The shaft 32a also carries a cam |14 which corresponds to the cam 89 insofar as the action of raising and lowering the reproduoer arm is' operates with the roller 93 on the lever member I 94. Consequently, the corresponding lever member, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, is designated by the numeral 94a. The peripheral outline of the cam |14 is. slightly different from the periphery. of the cam 89.

l A lever |15 is pivotally supported on a suitable shaft mounted in a boss |19 on the frame 29a. The lever includes a portion |11 which carries a roller |18- which engages the periphery of the cam |14. The lever also has a portion |19 which has its axis angular with respectJ to the portion |11- and mounted on the outer end of the portion 19 is a roller-|89. A bracket |8| mounted on Athe frame carries a screw |82 by which one end of a spring |83 is secured to the end of a .bracket |8|. The other end of the spring is connected to `the lever portion |19 viaa hole |84 formed therein.

Now, as the shaft 32a rotates, the lower end of the lever portion |19 and the roller |89 carried thereby, move along a circular path, due to the fact that the lever is pivoted. Secured on the lower end of the tone arm shaft, in place of the vblock member |1, is an L-shaped member |85,

which has an angular active surface |96 and an active surface |81. The member' |95 also carries a pawl member ||6a which is centralized by the two legs of a U-shaped spring |98. This pawl is adapted to cooperate with a series of notches ||5a formed on the lever arm 69a (which corresponds to the lever arm 69 described above inv connection with the first modification);

Referring to Figures 13 and 15, a boss' |89 is secured to the plate 29a by means o'f screws |98. The bo'ss |89 is rectangular and has a slot I9! formed therein. Crossing vthis slot are aligned holes |92 through which a pin |93 extends. A lever |94 has its right end'journaled on the pin 3. ably formed'integraltherewith A spring |98 which is secured on the boss |89 by the screw |99a b-ears on the lug |95 and urges the lever |94 ina counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 13. The lever has near the other end thereof, a portion cut away to form a notch |91 and a" second notch 98'spaced apart therefrom, leaving a fiat depressed surface |99 therebetween. An L-shaped bracket has one leg 29|! secured to the plate 28a by means lof screws 29|. The bracket also has a leg 282 extending vertically downwardly from the plate and has a lever thereto by means of a pivot pin 294.

A spring 295, secured on the leg 299 of the bracket, `extends through a hole 286 in the lower end of the lever 2|l3. The lever 283,as'may best be seen in Figure 1'5',v has a portion cut away to form a notch 291.' f The lever 293 extends through a Arectangular hole and the'spring'295 cal position wherein the notch 281 engages the 111g |954 l Since the spring |96 urges the lever |94 down# wardly, the' notch 201rarrests the lever |94 when f the lateral 'lug |95 so thatY the lever |94 downwardly'to the position shown in Figure 14,

`wherein the notch'lgl engages `the lever portion |19- and limits the movement of the latter.

Secured to the lever portion |19 is a `block member 289 yand abutting the block' 299 is a bracket member 2|8. secured -tothe lever screws 2| Mounted inthe levery portion |19 is a stop pin 2|2..A The bracket 2|91has, asrmay be seen in Figure 16, a lug portion 2 I3' which carriesv a stud 2|4 upon whicha pawl 2| Sis; journaled.

A spring Y 2 I6, one,A end of whichA is secured under.v

This lever |94- has a lateral lug |95 prefer- 293 securedi 299v formed in the plate 20a," urges the lever 293 to a verti` Now, when' ll presentlybe described, the notch' 281 is disengaged froml can move These two members are portion |19 by'means ofV f boredto accomodate the'shankfZZB'o'theshoul- 10" dered screw |16 soas to leavel the leverf ITF'freelymovable;

Carried on the upper end of the lever- 203 is, referring to Figure 15'; an engageablememlier 221; This-member is'jour-naled-v on a stud'1222V andlis 154 normally atrest With the side 22 3 in` contactwith* astop pinf224 inthe lever `2&332 A spring 225'hasone-'endl engaging astud 22K-carried by'tliemem ber'22'i andits lower end is-secured' tov the-leverf 29352, substantial distance from the member 22'ii 20- Thef member 22 i', asstated'above; isinits no1"- mal'` position with the surface 223iengaging the' stud' 224, Wl'n'cliisastop:4 A's also-statednorrmally the lever 203istand's'vertioal, as'shown in" solid .lines in Figure 15;

Assuming" that' the' machina; is' loaded* with` a' stackpifrecords;someof which' are, for example', 10" in diameter; and-'isomerof"which4 are; fordert;l ample, 12." 'inzdiameten' infact; the stackould be,10and 12." records-alternated; and assuming 30 that the bottom recordof'theistacktis a.' 16 rec` ord; this 10"," record; designated by;tl'reninneral-l 228, when' releasedg'.falls-1tofthe turntablg and' from the showingrin Figure' 15; itV4 will" be seen" that'fthe edgeoffthisfreoorrl'does'notxaieot theY a engageable member-1 223k Tlfrerlever.: 1911!y isf-in the position .shown in' Figure 13",' Where'the-notcl'r 19T isrnot-i engaged zbvthaflever 'portioir I 79. There-v fore; theflever l 75; ofvvhiclA I19',isat1portion;. isfa'l-L lowedt-o `followthe:contoui'rof the cam: l lll,- with the resultthat'the ,tone'f'arm isrswungin'to-:tne position Wherefthe :needle l dfisafabovefthe' outer.` extremityioifthe'sound track-228er off the l'. record. 228:

As v:the tone' arm comesfto restwith 'the needle" theeneedle twill engage thefreoordabymeans :of .thef: lever member 94a and:thefrecordstartspflayinge'y After-.theiecordha-s {been'played and thefneedl'e engages the Wiggling, grooveiztheepawl'l laxen*` gages Vtheeteethfl l 5ay andinitiatesatheanextrecord? 50 cycle Theshat Sais awithdraimfrom thegearv 38'.c and1 the changingi cycle; begins; due:- toc tire:`l factithatIthespringgdfurgesgthelgeariinfazdirece tiontd causeeits teeth to-meshizwitiftheminionrli ation in detail, the tone arm is raised fronnthe-y record, itiisfv swung.out.to a' point ,whererrit' clears a path, evenffer the 125 record t :r;fall-,=.,andtliee succeedingtrecorcl; Which-:is ther-,bottom oneeonK the` pile; issreleased and: itfalls'eto'. thee-turn table: New; it was assumed, above fthatltlremext record: will beta-p12." recordiand thisjssdesignatew in'Figprerl byther numeral 22911 In* failli-ng"totv the turntable,T this.; record? momentarily: engages thefengageable' meinberzfZ 21 andiswingslit tiythle"A dotted positionfshownaimligf 15a]` Thisareleases thefrleverz |94 -from: theonotcht-NLT and; allowssit to.assume-.'the-=positio`n shownfiin .Figureli The:4 lever; 203;:.after having-been swimglto thedotted'i position.'l and1re1easedjl tr'iesl toi'v accommodate-rits* normalvertieal position-but -isarrested by'corn-- ingr:infcontactlzwith th'e `edge f of theV lateral.- lug l95on 'the-levery I 94?- Nowr .when-the toneearm is-swung' inwardly-to assumes ther-'propere' playing fposition; the# lever portion ITS isarrested byv the notclrorst'op i311 andwherr so arrestedtlie needle lli'slstbpped directly'aboven thebeginning of the sound? track'| 229a'of thelzmrecordj so that when thefm'ember Bitzilets' the tione arm down ontotherecord it' begins atl the beginning of the sound track! on'- tlie" 12" record When" the tone arml is' moved outwardly; theA pawli 215'Y engages* thenotoh |98E anti` thus the extremeK outer position' of' theCL re'-P producerarmis defined Where the pawl' comes against tlenotch'- |983'. the portion H9 ofith'e lever" H5 can nodonger move to the leit; as. seen in Figure' 14; for exe-- ampie.v Consequently, anyfurther urge=in thatA directioncaus'es thepavvl to move in' a clockwise direction; asseen'; Figure: 1'4; with the; result? tliadothe lever l9'4i's`pushed upwardly (alsoin-a clockwise direction-)5' until theA extension` 2l?!- orrtlieleverA |94z has" beentraised; slightly' above'v the-- lever- |9'4 is held. up in' the* position shown in* Fgurel; which isi the` reset'positionior al 10" record.. However; ifitlienexttrecord: to 'be played isa'.12"recor1iinsteadof a 10" record;A the' en# 5 gageablem'ember 22| *maybeeengaged b'y the 12"' record" a's.it'fails'ontotlie turntable; andv there#V by'the lever: 203* is'swung to" the right,"A in a* clockwise; direction; ,asLseen in Eigure 151', there@ by releasing the* lever IBI and" allowing' it to assumefthepositionshowrrinFigure 14'; so that" tlieneed'lezin the tone arm isJletf down at thel beginning. ofthe' 121 sound:tra'ck; insteadofi'the' 10",if' the' lever2'03 hadnotibeen tripped From; the above; itiwiil" be" seen: thatL my'modi- 'o cation hereinshown: andideseribedi' isiverysim'- ple in construction; it* involves very few parts; very fewesprings; andtliere is" very little; mecha'- nisrllJ to" getout of order;

Whenit. is; dsii'edlto remoyethe records fromi ther turntable; the' engageable' member may" liet` swungin: a clockwise ciirectic'an about the axis 2 22'to 'apointwlfieretie surface'221 "restsagainst thefstoppin 224:' After the'recordsarerein'oved'j the eneageablemember mayb'e'nippedbaektouts normal"position.'A The spring`-2'25liolds tlieen= ga'geable member, in" eitherrof said positions.

It is: to be undTerstoodthat"theiabovedetailed" descriptionv of` the present invention and the' modification thereof.'is`;int'ended;` to. disclose ve111- bodiments: thereof" to. those. skilled( in` the; art;` but that Vthev invention is not to' be` construed. as' limited rinits. applcationto the. details. of@ construction and` arrangementl of' parts. illustrated. in1the-accompanyingrdrawings, since-the invene tn'i is; capable Vofi being?4 practiced.' and ll carried outrinivariousf-waysiwithout departingA fromhthe: spirit ofi the.. inventiom The :language usedin. ther. speciizleaticm.y relating; to the operation. andi functioniof the elements :ofltheinvention ,is em ployede for.v purposeseof descrptionrandanot of. limitationev and`1 itt is not eintended tot lim-it.l the.- =scope of: the. following: claimse beyond; the; re quirementseotthepriorrartr- What is claimedois:r

LuArirecordfchanger: having; a turntable and todrive. the same;`r a reproducen. amr: adapteitoplay.. records, onzsaid. turntable; and*F to u initiate recordl changing i cycles, ande mea-ns for; ei'ectinggrecord changingt operations;1.a-vcenntralv'holr in isaidaturntabler a. y stationary post z extending;substantiallysverticallythrough rsaid. hole"- andlhaving, theu upperA portion ythereof, offset to? form a.. shoulderJ upon which the e lower.. record;A of'a staek..ot'lrecordsmay1restaa movable post,- also extending through said hole and adjacent to said stationary post and having its upper extremity adjacent to said shoulder, said movable post being supported for movement both vertically and laterally within the center hole of said lower record, said movable post being in cooperative relation with said means for effecting record changing operations, and a rubber-like retardation element secured to said movable post intermediate said end and said turntable, and consequently in the path of and for reducing the force of the fall of records as they are released from said stack by the movements of said movable post.

2. A record changer having a turntable and means to drive the same, a reproducer arm adapted to play records on said turntable and to initiate record changing cycles, and means for effecting record changing operations, a central hole in said turntable, a stationary post extending substantially vertically through said hole and having the upper portion thereof offset to form a shoulder upon which the lower record of a stack of records may rest, a movable post also extending through said hole and adjacent to said stationary post and having its upper extremity adjacent to said shoulder, a support for said movable post positioned between the upper surface of said turntable and said shoulder and arranged to allow said movable post to move both vertically and laterally within the center hole of said lower record, said movable post being in cooperative relation to said means for eiecting record changing operations, and a rubber-like retardation element secured to said movable post intermediate said end and said turntable, and consequently in the path of and for reducing the force of the fall of records as they are released from said stack by the movements of said movable post.

3. In a record changer having a turntable and means to drive the same, a reproducer arm adapted to play records on said turntable and to initiate record changing cycles, a non-rotative support extending vertically above said turntable and including a ledge upon which the lowermost of a stack of records rests in spaced relation to said` of and adapted to engage and momentarily arrest each record as it is falling to said turntable, said non-rotative support being comprised of a stationary member and a movable member movable both endwise and laterally and in which said movable member supports said retardation element.

4. In a record changer having a turntable and means to drive the same, a reproducer arm adapted to play records on said turntable and to initiate record changing cycles, a non-rotative strip forming a support extending upwardly above said turntable and having a ledge upon which the lowermost of a stack of records may rest in spaced relation to said turntable, a second nonrotative strip supported on said rst strip for movement both laterally and upwardly, said support and said strip being of a width to be traversed by the central holes in said records, a rubber-like retardation element secured on said second strip between said ledge and said turntable in the path of and for momentarily arresting each record as it falls to said turntable, and cam means for controlling both the upward and the lateral movements of said second strip.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said cam means, when at rest is in such position that records moved upwardly from the turntable are easily removed, due to the displacement of said second strip by the engagement of said retardation element with the holes in the records.

DUDLEY H. SMITH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,725,237 Wierth Aug. 20, 1929 2,237,340 Downs Apr. 8, 1941 2,271,001 Fortune Jan. 27, 1942 2,286,490 Knox June 16, 1942 2,291,158 Hostensson et al. July 28, 1942 2,295,092 Offen Sept. 8, 1942 2,307,030 Erwood Jan. 5, 1943 2,309,352 Offen Jan. 26, 1943 2,328,052 Butler Aug. 31, 1943 2,498,333 Faulkner Feb. 21, 1950 

